The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Policy # [####]
Faculty Tenure (FAC 4.E)

Original Issuance Date: MMMM DD, YYYY
Last Revision Date: MMMM DD, YYYY
Next Review Date: MMMM DD, YYYY

1. PURPOSE

2. RESPONSIBLE OFFICER

3. SCOPE

4. BACKGROUND

5. DEFINITIONS

6. POLICY STATEMENT

FAC 4.E.0. Incorporation of College Personnel Materials.

Please note that substantive requirements relating to faculty appointment, renewal, tenure, promotion, and merit may be found in materials developed at the college or department level. College-specific information has been included as an appendix to this material.

FAC 4.E.1. General Considerations.

Tenure decisions for faculty are made at the end of the sixth year of service or five and one-half years of service for those who either began at the start of a spring semester or who had an odd number of semester leaves of absence. Under exceptional circumstances faculty who hold the rank of associate professor may seek tenure prior to their sixth year.

FAC 4.E.2. Tenure Through Renewal of a Probationary Appointment.

(1) A tenure decision shall be made for all probationary faculty who are not on terminal appointment according to the schedule listed below:

(a) For faculty holding a full time probationary appointment, the decision shall be made by the end of the Spring Semester of the sixth year of service.

(b) For faculty holding a probationary appointment of at least three‑quarters time but less than full‑time, the decision shall be made by the end of the Spring Semester of the ninth year of service.

(c) For faculty holding a probationary appointment of at least half‑time but less than three‑quarters time, the decision shall be made by the end of the Spring Semester of the thirteenth year of service.

(2) The same review process as listed for renewal of probationary faculty shall be followed for recommending tenure, with the additional requirement that each reviewing level include a statement addressing the following factors:

(a) Teaching: based on the review of the candidate’s performance as documented in the credentials under review, that the candidate has established a record of teaching effectiveness that enables the reviewer to believe the candidate will make a significant contribution to the future growth and development of the University.

(b) Scholarly Activities: based on the review of the candidate’s performance as documented in the credentials under review, that the candidate has established a record of appropriate scholarly activities that enables the reviewer to believe the candidate will make a significant contribution to the future growth and development of the University.

(c) Service: based on the review of the candidate’s performance as documented in the credentials under review, that the candidate has established a record of appropriate service that enables the reviewer to believe the candidate will make a significant contribution to the future growth and development of the University.

FAC 4.E.3. Early Tenure.

(1) Faculty members who have been credited by UW Oshkosh with a total of five or more years of full time experience in the rank of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor at UW Oshkosh and/or at a comparable academic institution prior to their appointment at UW Oshkosh may request consideration for early tenure as provided below.

(a) Faculty must be in the rank of associate professor or professor to request early tenure consideration. Faculty granted time toward their probationary period should meet the same level of achievement for faculty eligible for tenure in their sixth year at UW Oshkosh.

(b) Faculty wishing to apply for an early tenure decision must inform their department chairperson or equivalent, in writing, at the time they are notified that they will be evaluated for renewal/non-renewal, or earlier. Faculty whose requests for early tenure are denied may not be considered again for early tenure. A denial of early tenure shall not prejudice action on tenure at the completion of the usual probationary period. The Provost and Vice Chancellor’s Office should be consulted to determine if the years of experience criterion is met.

FAC 4.E.4. Tenure upon Appointment.

Faculty with outstanding credentials may be granted tenure at the time of the initial appointment. Such a tenure appointment will require affirmative recommendations by the initial level of review and the Chancellor. The form used for initial appointment and tenure as well as all evidence required for making a tenure decision must accompany such a recommendation. The recommendation of the department should be reviewed by the college tenure review committee if there is one, Dean, Provost and Vice Chancellor, Chancellor, and approved by the Board of Regents.

7. REFERENCES

8. PROCEDURES

9. REVISION HISTORY